The Forrest City times., 1887-12-24
FIFTlETH CONGRESS.
MONDAY.

lNITOuucllOu Ol au oA bih9 for laws on a great range of subjects. Mr. Ingalls, introduced bills to re- move the limitation in the payment of arrears of pensions; granting arrears in certain cases to those who pensioned by special acts Of congress.
 Other bills were introduced, among them the following: By Mir. sherman. For the preserya- ton of the woods and forests adjacent to the sources of nsyigable rivers and their affluents.
 By Mr. Hoar: Constitutional amend- ment for the extentiou of the congress- ional term to the last Tuesday in April. By Mr. Cullom: To amend the inter- state commerce act.
 Also. for the establishment and op- eration of United States postal tele- graph;
 Also, to equalize the rates of pen sions in certain cases;
 Also, to extend the pension laws to steamboatmen and others acting under the orders of United States officers
 By Mir. Jones of Arkansas: Opening the great Sioux reservation in Nebras- ka 10 settlement.
 By NIT. Frye: To promote the polit- teal progress and commercial prosper lty of the American nation.
 By Mir. Gray: To establish . court of appeals
 MT. Platt offered a resolution to amend the rules so that hereafter the penate shall consider and act upon treaties and executive nominations in open sessions, except when otherwise ordered. Referred to tho committee on rules.
 On motion of Mir. Cockrell the select committee of last congress on methods in the executive departments were continued with leave to report &. any time prlor to the 25th of January.
 MT. Dolph called up the bill intro dueed by him yesterday to provide for Notifications and other seacoast de- fenses. On his motion it was referred to the committee on coast-line de- lenses.
 In the house, after the reading of a number of executive communications, Mir. owen G. Chase's claim to a seat as delegate from the territory of Cimaron was presented by NIT. Springer The subject was discussed at length, but was laid on the table. Mir. Carlisle asked te be excused from naming the committee on election.
 After the recess speaker Carlisle, having called MT. Mills of Texas to the chair, MT. Cannon Of Illinois offered a resolution declaring that the following named gentlemen shall constitute the committee on elections Messrs. Crisp, chairman; o'Ferrall, Oathwaite, Barry, Maish, Heard, Johnson Of North Caro- lima, O'Neil of Indiana, Moore. Rowell Houk, Cooper, Lyman. Johnson of h. diana, and Lodge.
 The resolution was unanimously adopted.
 The speaker having resumed the chair, directed all papers in the various contested election cases to be referred to the committee just elected, and then the house at l:l0 adjourned until Fri day.
 TUESDAY.
 In the senate, after the presentation of large number of petitions. Mr. Morrill, from the committee on finance, report ed back the senate bill to credit and pay to the several states and territories all money collected under the direct tax act of August l5, 1861. Mir. Dolph's bill, providing for Qualifications and other seacoast defe uses, was called up and referred to the proper committees. Among tue bills introduced were two by Mr. Cullom, one to amend the in- terstate commerce act, and the other to provide for the establishment of a United states postal telegraph. Mir. Jones introduced bill to open the great Sioux reservation in Nebraska to settlement, and MT. Frye one to pro- mote the political progress and com mercial prosperity of the American nation.
 FAULKNER GETS HIS ssAT.
 The ser ste committee on privileges and elections has devoted several hours today to consideration q. the West Virginia contested cleo ten case. Both the contesants addressed tbe committee and both submitted printed briefs. There is no disagreement as to the facts. The burden Of MT Lucas argu- ment is embodied in the following from his brief
 ''If the special session had power to elect, then they have chosen Mir. Faulk- ner and he is entitled to be sworn in {; but if they had no such power, then there is no vacancy and the action Is ultra wires, and intellectual either to elect Judge Faulkner or to terminate the title of the incumbent. MT Lucas. who, as the appointee Of the governor, is in that event entitled to be sworn in as senator until the next meeting of the legislature in lSS9. The legislature of state has power to make all laws not prohibited by the constitution of the state or that of the United States. Bat this special session is restricted to cer- tain business selected by the executive to meet an emergency.
 Mir. Lucss quotes the provision of the state constitution. which declares that the leg stature. when convened In special session, ''shall enter upon no business except that stated in the pro clsmation by which it was called to- gether."
 Mir. Lucas argued that the election came under the denomination '.busi- ness" as used in the constitution. and submitted judicial opinions from West N~ 'gla authorities on the subject.
 sauikner contended that the eleetioa of senator was not eompre- hepded in the term "businesso as used 't ehc Ssstc that vast majority of the judiciary and bar of West Virginia was of his way of thinking. He declared that every question now before the senate committee had been raised before the legislature and decided in way favor able to his claim. The decision of the legislature, he admitted, was not bind ing upon the committees, but it should, he argued, have persuasive influence. He said that if the po~ser to elect a senator were conferred by tue state consultation, then his election was ir- regular; but If the power was derived from the federal constitution, as he claimed. then the act ofth legislature was regular and his election was legal
 The committe discussed the matter Tor an hour and determined unanimous ly to report in favor Of NIT. Fauikner's title tot he vacant seat
 A large number Of executive con- munieations were laid before the house by the speaker and referred: a com